Fire destroys warehouse in Korangi

KARACHI: Goods worth million of rupees were reduced to ashes as a third-degree fire ripped through a courier company’s warehouse near Chamra Chowrangi, Korangi, on Sunday night.

As per the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) fire department, the fire broke out in a shed owned by a courier service at 11:16pm.

A fire truck was initially moved the site but the fire spread and engulfed nearby sheds. “Fire tenders from all over the city were called in to take part in the operation when the fire engulfed nearby sheds. The fire department has declared is as a third degree blaze,” Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Tehseen Siddiqui told The News.

The firefighters put off the blaze after a hectic eleven-hour operation at 9:30am, Monday morning, he said, adding that the cooling process was still going on at the burnt sheds of the courier company.

The CFO said 14 fire tenders, two water bowsers, and a snorkel took part in the firefighting operation. He said the cause of fire would be ascertained on compilation of the final report.

Talking to The News, District Korangi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nauman Siddiqui said an initial report suggested that the company was not following the standard operating procedure.

He added goods worth million of rupees reduced to ashes in this fire, and the amount of financial losses would be ascertained through an investigation.

Separately, a fire broke out inside a closed flourmill at Nazimabad No 4 on Monday evening. As per the KMC’s fire brigade central control room, the fire erupted inside the closed flourmill near near Hadi Market at 5:25pm.

A fire truck was immediately sent to the site, and but later five more trucks were reached the scene. The firefighters managed to put off the blaze in two hours, a fire official said, adding that the cooling process was still going on.

Nazimabad police SHO Rizwan Haider told The News that the flourmill owner had rented out compounds of the unit which were being used as warehouses of plastic bags and clothes.